Godavari Mela
Hindu
Dates
| 2083 BS | On the day Jupiter (Brihaspati) aligned with the Sun, According to Hindu astrology — date to be announced | Date to be announced |
| 2084 BS | On the day Jupiter (Brihaspati) aligned with the Sun, According to Hindu astrology — date to be announced | Date to be announced |
When: On the day Jupiter (Brihaspati) aligned with the Sun, According to Hindu astrology (Wikipedia)
Godavari Mela (Nepali: गोदावरी मेला) or Simhastha Mela is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in Godavari, in Lalitpur district of Nepal. The festival attracts Hindu pilgrims from all over Nepal, India and some tourists from other countries. Pilgrims believe that taking a dip in the holy spout during the festival washes away their sins. The festival was started in the Lichhavi period. The festival is celebrated for one month and is visited by millions of people.
Festival procession
The festival begins after priests and devotees leave the Harisiddhi temple in the early morning for Godavari escorted by traditional musical orchestras. The main priest pours milk into the Godavari pond, and take a holy dip. The same is then followed by 28 other priests. The pond has five stone spouts which are believed to have been formed during Samundra manthana and a drop of Amrit (nectar) fell at the Godavari and the other fell in Nasik in India. Pilgrims visit the Siddeshowr Mahadev and Godavari Ganga temples. During the festival, the road from Patan to Godavari is crowded with buses, people and shops. Local produce are showcased in the stalls. Volunteers, including Scouts and Red-cross manages the festival under the organization committee.
